Tape processing machine



March 20,1945. E. H. BROWN TAPE PROCESSING MACHINE Fiied Oct. 2a, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Awenibr Edward/i Eran r7 v March 20, 1945. BROWN 2,371,799

' TAPE PROCESSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1943 2 Shee't-Sheet 2 i Awe/77251" fowar'dh firown v UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE 'rarn rnocsssma MACHINE Edward H. Brown, Grand Rapids, lificla, assignor to MoInerney Spring & Wire Company, Grand Rapids. Mieln, a corporation of Michigan Application October 2a, 1943, Serial No.508,074

8 Claims. (01. 91-14) This invention relates to a tape processing machine and is directed to the rapid production angles to the longer side and the adhesive side Theis applied to each side of the tape at each end in a narrow strip substantially parallel to the end edges. The present invention has for its primary object and purpose a rapid quantity production of the relatively short lengths of. tape with the adhesive thereon as described.

An understanding of the invention and of a preferred construction of machine embodying the'invention may be hadfrom the-following description, taken in connection with the accomanying drawings, in which,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a tape processing machine built in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section through the adhesive applying portion of the machine. 1

Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the tape severingmeans. v

Fig. 6 is an edge view thereof, and Fig. 7 is an illustration of one of the short lengths of processed tape after completion of the processing thereof. 1 Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings. In the construction of the machine a frame is provided including two spaced relatively long vertical posts I connected at their upper ends by a cross bar 2. Other vertical posts '3 of less height are utilized, spaced fronr the posts I. Horizontal frame bars 4 connect the upper end of the posts I with the posts I and between said bars 4 horizontal bar supports 5 are provided.

A short distance inward from the upper ends of the posts 3 other vertical posts 6 are secured at their lower ends to the bars 4 and are connected at their upper ends with the posts .I byhorizontal bars 1 located-over the bars 4. Approximately midway between the ends of 'the bars I relatively short vertical posts 8 are secured thereto at their lower ends. Horizontal bars 1 are pivotally mounted at one end, at l l, to the upper ends of theposts i and extendover the bar I. being connected at their free ends by amber li whichliesdirectlyoverthebari and is adjustably mounted with respect thereto by a threaded bolt I2 with nuts thereon which may be adjusted to different positions so as to adjust the bars 8 about the axis of the pin Ill.

At the outer sides of the post 3 supporting hooks l3 are secured for carrying a roll of tape l4. The tape unwinding from said roll is carried through an adhesive holding container l5 mounted on and lying between the posts 4, at the under side of which a heating element It may be secured, which in practice is an electric coil con.-

struction of conventional form. A vertical guide l1 (Fig. 3) for the tape extends upwardly above and through the bottom of the adhesive container, one side thereof being extended downwardly and curved as at l8 for a change of direction of the tape to .pass through the vertical guide II. The container ll contains a quantity of liquid adhesive l8 maintained at the desired temperature by the heating element l8.

Two rollers 20 are mounted on horizontal shafts 2| over and extend partly within the adhesive at [9. The rollers are equipped at equally spaced distances around the peripheries thereof with wicks 22 of felt or other equivalent adhesive absorbing and carrying material. Said wicks are located diagonally across the peripheral faces of the rollers 20 and alternately are reversed in angular position. The wicks are located so that complementarywicks on the two rollers come together on rotation of the rollers in opposite directions. The tape l4 carried ver tically through guide I! is pressed by the wicks at opposite sides of the tape at equally spaced dis- 20 are mounted on suitable bearings 23 carriedby the bars 4 of the frame.

The tape i4 is moved upwardly over a roller 24 which is mounted for adjustment in asupport 25, the ends of the roller shaft being locatedin horizontal slots in the support and engaged at opposite sides by the ends of adjusting screws The tape l8 passing over the roller 24 is directed horizontally to the severing means. Such severing means consists of a lower flanged roller 21 carried on a shaft 28 which is mounted at its ends in suitable bearings supported on the horizontal bar I. At equally spaced distances around the roller 21 blocks is are secured and held, the outer sides of'the blocks. being substantially flush with the periphery of the roller. These blocks are located diagonally or at an angle with respect to the plane of the roller and the alternate blocks are disposed at angles to each other, the same as the wicks 22. Over the roller 21 a second flanged roller 30 is located and mounted upon a shaft 3! which is carried by bearings fixed to the upper adjustable bars 9 of the frame. The roller so has securedthereto around its peripheral portions a plurality of tape cutters 32 equal in number to the blocks 29 and having cutting projections which extend slightly beyond the periphery of the roller 30 and which when such cutter projections come to the blocks as thereinto act to cut the tape located between said block and cutter. The peripheral faces of the rollers 27 and 30 bear against each other and operate to grip the tape inserted between themand draw it continuously from the roll of tape mounted upon the brackets at IS. The rollers 2'8 and 30 therefore act as feed rollers for the tape in addition to their function served in cutting the tape diagonally across, The exterior radius of the faces of the rollers 27 and so is the same as the radius extending from the center of the shaft H to the outer face of a wick 22.

The mechanism is driven preferably by an electric motor 33 carried on the lower bars-s and the bars 5 of the frame and which througha speed reducer, the housing of which is indicated 7 and 38' as shown in Fig. 1, driving the two shafts M in opposite directions and likewise the shafts,

28 and 3! in opposite directions. With the machine described the continuous tape indicated at it is processed to cut it into short tape lengths shown at 38 in Fig. 'l which are of a trapezoidal and with the ends diverging from each other from the shorter to the longer side. The cutting of the tapeby the knives at 32 is midway between the side edges of the adhesive strips or bands which are applied to the tape at spaced apart intervals. Therefore each final tape at as at each end is supplied with a narrow band of adhesive 39 at both sides thereof, the bands being parallel to the end edges of the tape as shown,

When the short lengths of tape are successively cut from the continuous length it they are carried and delivered to an inclined chute 4| (Fig. 1) down which they slide to a receptacle to receive them. r

' The construction described is of a practical form, that is, with one side longer than the other and useful character and has been built and is in across the edges of the fabric. The tape as processed in the present invention is likewise of fab- 1'10 and in the construction of a large quantity of asnjrae produces them very rapidly and in large quantity and in uniformity and identity with each I other.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope. I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, means for moving a length of tape continuously in the direction of its length, means for apply= adhesive to the tape at opposite sides thereof at spaced intervals in the length of the tape, and means for severing the tape at the places where the adhesive has been applied and substantially midway between the side edges of said adhesive applications.

2. In apparatus of the class described, means for continuously moving a length of tape in the direction of its length, means for applying adhesive transverselyof the tape at oppositesides thereof and at an'angle to the length thereof at spaced intervals in the length of the tape and for applying said adhesive at alternate applications' thereof, at reversed substantially like angles to the length of the tape, and means for severing the tape at said applications of adhesive thereto substantially midway between the side edges thereof.

3. In a construction of ,the class described. driven rollers between which tape may be continuously drawn in the direction of its length,

. cooperating severing means carried by said means for continuously driving said rollers and for driving said tape drawing and severing rollers. K

5. In apparatus of the character described, means for supporting a, roll of tape on a horizontal axis, .spaced rollers for engaging said tape for continuously drawing it in the direction of its length from said roll, cooperating transverse cutting means carried by said rollers for cuta ting the tape transversely at spaced distances in the length thereof, two rotatable adhesive applying rollers mounted to turn on horizontal axes,

spaced wicks adapted to absorb and carry adv hesive extending from said rollers, a. receptacle ior liquid adhesive into which said rollers extend, means for vertically guiding the tape as it is moved through said receptacle without contacting the adhesive and between the rollers for the application of adhesive to the tape at spaced distances in the length thereof, the adhesive wicks on said rollerscoming against substantially equal areas on opposite sides of said tape simultaneously and means for continuously driving said tape moving and severing rollers and said adhesive applying rollers.

6. A construction containing the elements in combination deflnedin claim 5. said means for driving said rollers comprising a continuously a chain driving wheel on said shaft, and an endless chain engaging said wheel, said tapemoving and severing rollers and said adhesive applying rollers having like wheels driven by the chain.

7. In a construction of the class described,

means for drawing a continuous length of tape in the direction of its length, spaced rollers mounted to turn about horizontal axes, ad-

hesive carrying wicks mounted at spaced distances around the rollers and projecting outwardly from the peripheries thereof, means for driving said rollers in opposite directions with the outer ends of the wicks moving at substantiaily the same lineal speed as the longitudinal movement of said tape, whereby the wicks are simultaneously brought against opposite sides of the tape at spaced distances in the length thereof,

a container for liquid adhesive into which the lower portions of the rollers extend. a vertical guide extending through said liquid container through which the tape passes. and means for cutting the tape transverselv at the places of adhesive application thereto and between the opposite sides of the adhesive applications.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a support, two spaced rollers mounted to turn about horizontal axes on said support, adhesive carrying wicks mounted at spaced distances around said rollers and extending beyond the peripheries thereof, means for drawing a continuous length of tape between said rollers at a predetermined speed, means for driving the rollers at speed such that the outer ends of said wicks have substantially the same lineal speed as the tape movement, means for supp il adhesive to said wicks for transference thereof to the tape upon engagement of the wicks against the opposite sides thereof and means for cutting the tape transversely at the places of adhesive application thereto and between the side edges of said adhesive applications.

, EDWARD H. BROWN. 

